I'm Not Yours

12. Satellite

"I'm here, right here, wishing I could be there for you."

Could be better...could've been worse.

Bucky drives us to the nearby motel he spotted so we can rest up for the night. Considering he hasn't gotten much, if any, sleep in the last 24 hours, I'm sure he must be exhausted.

The trick now is discreetly getting a room and getting some rest for us both.

And maybe some painkillers before I pass out.

"Let me go in to get the room alone." I tell Bucky when he helps me off the bike.

He furrows his brow, clearly not okay with the idea. "I'm not that recognizable." he says, clearly understanding why I said that.

"Do you want to risk it?" I say, knowing that it's for the best that we try to stay as discreet as possible. Maybe he won't be recognized, but I definitely won't. Perks of being unknown within the Avengers.

I can see Bucky wants to protest, but eventually he sighs with acceptance. "Fine." he says, and looks back out towards the street. "I'm actually going to head to the store to get us a few things okay?"

I nod, though not liking the idea of separating from him. After what we've been through, having him with me is what's giving me comfort and I try not to let my sudden nerves come out.

Bucky tilts his head slightly, and I think he notices. But he doesn't comment. Instead he reaches his hand up, gently grazing his fingers against my cheek. It isn't until I feel the slight sting that I realize what he's focusing on.

"Hope they don't ask too many questions." he says as he continues to look at one of the several cuts I got from the fall we took.

It's going to look suspicious, but I've already got a backstory that I think I can get away with. "I've got it." I say, already planning for any possible questions that come up. "I'll keep an eye out for you to let you know which room I'm in." I say, giving him as confident of a nod as I can.

Bucky hesitates, apparently really not wanting to leave me. But he sighs and turns around, getting back on the bike. I stay standing there until he turns it on and then heads out of the parking lot. I just didn't want him to see me struggling to walk, because I know he never would have left me alone.

I also know that I can't walk in there and look like I need a hospital because it will raise suspicion. So I take a deep breath and mentally prepare myself for the pain as I try to walk as normal as I can. It's a jolt of pain with every step and I can't help a slight limp, but I manage to make it to the front office.

Luckily there's no one else in the lobby and I head towards the counter and the receptionist at the front. There's a blonde, older woman standing there, and despite the silence of the night that could ruin anyone's mood, she gives me a big bright smile as I approach her.

"Hi there." she says, her accent coming through. "Welcome."

I give her a soft smile as I finish limping towards her. "Hey, can I get a room for two."

I see her notice the cuts on my face before she leans over the counter to look at my obviously injured body. "You look like you had a rough day." she says, clear concern in her tone.

I have to sell this as playful or she might just call an ambulance for me. "This is what happens when you and your boyfriend are competitive." I say with a chuckle. "We were out riding horses and got into a bit of a race that ended with me on the floor." It's a little intense of a lie, but I can't just say I fell. Because that's too simple of a lie that can be easily caught.